JPH02102029A - Method and apparatus for formation of prepreg material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent oozed resin from adhering to the surface of a pressing die and solidifying and to obtain a satisfactory press molding by holding a laminated prepreg material between upper and lower release films, and hot pressing it. CONSTITUTION:Heat fusion-adhesive films 2, 3 called 'release films' are supplied to upper and lower surfaces of a prepreg material 1 prior to the molding of the material 1. The films 2, 3 are larger in width than the material 1, and both side edges of the films are extended from both side edges of the material 1 to be superposed. The surfaces to be superposed are processed to be heat fusion-adhesive. When resin impregnated under pressure is heated to its thermosetting temperature during hot pressing, the resin in the material is thermoset to bind fibers, and excessive resin is oozed under pressure to the surface of the material 1, but fed to drop in air gaps 5a, 5b formed with the films 2, 3 to be thermoset. Thus, the resin oozed from the material retains in a sealing part without adhering to the surface of a pressing die, thereby eliminating adverse influence to the environment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and a molding apparatus for a prepreg material in which carbon fiber or glass fiber is impregnated with a thermosetting resin.

[Conventional technology]

A known technique is to heat-form a prepreg material made by impregnating long fibers such as carbon fiber or glass fiber with thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin or phenol resin to obtain a molded product with a desired cross-sectional shape. .

Carbon fiber and glass fiber have high strength per unit weight.
In particular, their tensile strength is high, so if these fibers are laminated with their fibers oriented vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to make a composite material, it is possible to obtain a lightweight product with high specific strength and specific modulus, which is widely used in aircraft. , used in industrial parts.

The materials used for molding are carbon fibers or glass fibers impregnated with thermosetting resin that are arranged in parallel to form one layer, or woven fabrics of these fibers are used as one layer, and many of these layers are laminated. If necessary, a roving of these fibers is interposed between the eyebrows to form a molding material.

As for the molding method and equipment, a plurality of reinforcing fibers in the form of bundles or fabrics supplied from a bobbin are passed through a resin tank to be impregnated with thermosetting resin, and then heated in the upper and lower molds of a hot press machine. It is heated and pressurized in a mold to be molded into a predetermined cross-sectional shape, and then the molded product is completely hardened in a curing furnace to become a product. During this time, the molded product was moved within the device by being continuously pulled by a traction machine placed at the rear of the device.

However, with this method and device, when the molded product is pulled out with a traction machine, significant frictional resistance occurs, causing scratches such as meandering and cutting of fibers, and the strong traction force of the traction machine makes it difficult to obtain thin molded products. Because of this problem, the present applicant proposed a molding method in Japanese Patent Application No. 158820/1982 that allows molding to be produced without damage by releasing pressure from the mold when moving the molded product. Proposed 6 [
[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned hot press molding method and molding apparatus for these prepreg materials, when fiber bundles, fabrics, etc. impregnated with resin pass between the molds, excess resin is released into the mold. It accumulates in the prepreg material insertion opening of the mold and gradually hardens, causing the hardened material to damage the surface of the molded product, or during press processing, the resin impregnated into the material oozes out onto the material surface due to pressure. The exuded resin adheres to the surface of the mold and solidifies, and the resin solidified on the surface of the mold causes dents on the surface of the material from the next molding process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a prepreg material molding method and molding apparatus that eliminates damage caused by drawing out molded products, completely disposes of excess resin during molding, and yields damage-free molded products.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method for forming a prepreg material of the present invention includes a step of supplying a heat-fusible release film having a width larger than the width of the prepreg material so as to sandwich the upper and lower surfaces of the prepreg material. and a step of hot pressing the prepreg material covered with the release film. Alternatively, there is a step of supplying a heat-fusible release film having a cap larger than the width of the prepreg material so as to sandwich the top and bottom surfaces of the prepreg material, and a step of heat-welding both edges of the release film to cover the prepreg material with the release film. and hot pressing the prepreg material coated with the release film. The prepreg material forming apparatus of the present invention includes a feeding device equipped with a large number of bobbins wound with strip-shaped prepreg material, a bobbin wound with a release film that is supplied above and below the prepreg material, and a supply device equipped with a bobbin wound with a release film that is supplied above and below the prepreg material. 1. A preforming device that pressurizes and preforms the molding material sandwiched between release films at the top and bottom; 1. A hot press device that intermittently heats and presses the molding material; and 1. Hot press that presses the molded material to a certain length at regular intervals. A device that is equipped with a pull-out device for pulling out the prepreg material from the device, or a device that loads and feeds a large number of bobbins wound with strip-shaped prepreg material, and a bobbin wound with a release film that is supplied above and below the prepreg material; a preforming device that pressurizes and preforms a molding material sandwiched between release films at the top and bottom; a heat sealing device that heats and welds the release films extending on both sides of the preformed molding material; It is equipped with a hot press device that heats and presses the molding material, and a drawer device that pulls out the molded material a fixed length from the hot press device at fixed intervals.

[Effect]

With the above-described structure, the present invention allows resin exuding from the prepreg material during hot press molding and surplus resin accumulating at the mold entrance to flow down between the release film and the prepreg material, or to accumulate in the gap in the heat-sealed part of the release film. It will not adhere to or solidify on the surface of press molds or molded products.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the molding method of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. It is made by arranging them in parallel or making them into woven fabrics and polymerizing them in multiple layers, with about 10 layers being laminated depending on the purpose of use.

In the molding method of the present invention, prior to molding the prepreg material 1, a heat-fusible film 2.3 called a release film is supplied on the upper and lower surfaces of the prepreg material.

This release film 2.3 is made of polyester resin, for example, and has a suitable thickness.The width of the release film 2.3 is larger than the width of the prepreg material 1, and the center lines are aligned with each other when the release film 2.3 is supplied. Therefore, the side edges 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b of the release film extend outward from the side edges 1a, 1b of the prepreg material 1 and overlap each other.

Next, the upper and lower release films 2a, 3a and 2b, 3b, which extend outside the both side edges 1a, lb of the prepreg material 1 and overlap each other, are thermally welded as necessary.

In the case of a polyester film, since it is welded at about 250° C., it is welded using a heat sealing device that uses electric heat, and the upper and lower films are sealed at the sealing portions 4a and 4b.

As a result, the prepreg material 1 is in a state where its periphery is covered with the release film 2.3, but some gaps 5a, 5b are formed between the both sides la, lb of the prepreg material 1 and the seal parts 4a, 4b. be done.

After this processing is completed, the prepreg material still covered with the release film 2.3 is hot-pressed into a predetermined shape.

In the example of FIG. 1, a case is shown in which a 7-shaped angle material is processed, but in the molding method of the present invention, an inverted V-shaped mold with the center portion as the top is used.

In hot pressing, the material is pressurized and heated to the thermosetting temperature of the impregnated resin. For example, epoxy resin is heated to approximately 120° C. to 130° C. This heating causes the resin in the material to thermoset and bond the fibers, and excess resin oozes out onto the surface of the prepreg material 1 due to pressure.

The exuded resin flows down into the gaps 5a, 5b formed by the upper and lower release films 2.3, and is thermally cured within these gaps 5a, 5b.

The material for release films 2 and 3 is selected from a material that welds at a higher temperature than the thermosetting temperature of the thermosetting resin of prepreg material 1, so during hot press processing, release films 2 and 3 are attached to the upper and lower molds of the press. and prepreg material 1
has no effect on

After the hot pressing process is completed, the release film 2.3 is removed to obtain a product.

In the molding method of the present invention, hot pressing is performed with the upper and lower surfaces of the prepreg material covered with separate release films, so the resin exuding from the prepreg material does not adhere to the surface of the press mold. The smoothness of the mold surface can be maintained. In addition, since both edges of the release film are heat-sealed, the exuded resin collects in the gap formed in the sealing portion and does not have any adverse effects on the surrounding area.

When applying this molding method, it is necessary to design the shape of the press die so that the exuded resin can easily flow down. Note that in this embodiment and the drawings, both edges of the release film 2.3 are sealed to form sealed portions 4a and 4b, but the release film 2.3 can be released even if the edges are not sealed and are simply overlapped. By making the film sufficiently larger than the width of the prepreg material to be molded, the synthetic resin that oozes out does not come into direct contact with the mold.

Figure 2 shows the overall configuration of the molding apparatus of the present invention, but since the apparatus is large, it is divided into three parts.
Illustrated in Figures a), (b), and (c).

The supply device 10 includes a plurality of support shafts 12 provided on a mounting surface 11, and a bobbin 13 around which a band-shaped prepreg material is wound is rotatably attached to the support shafts 12. The number of bobbins 13 to be installed is selected depending on the number of laminated layers of prepreg material required for the product to be molded, but in the illustrated embodiment, a maximum of 14 bobbins 13 can be installed. Prepreg materials can be supplied.

Since the prepreg material is impregnated with a thermosetting resin and has adhesive properties, it is wound around a bobbin with a film called a separator (not shown) interposed on one side of the material. Therefore, each bobbin 13 is provided with a winding device w14 for this separator, and the prepreg material 1 is rolled from the bobbin 13.
When the separator is unrolled, the separator is taken up by the winding device 1.
4, and only the prepreg material 1 is guided by a pair of pinch rollers 15 and sent out. Each bobbin 1
3 is equipped with a brake device (not shown) using a spring, and feeds out the prepreg material while maintaining an appropriate tension.

The prepreg material fed out from each bobbin 13 of the supply device 1o is fed into a series of roller devices 20 every few layers. In this roller device 20, for example, three rollers 21 constitute a set of roller units, and by passing the prepreg material 1 between the roller units, a small pressure is applied to the laminated prepreg materials. to support lamination.

However, since the prepreg material is pressed and preformed in a subsequent step, it is not necessarily necessary to pass it through this roller device 20.

On the other hand, the supply device 10 is provided with two heat-fusible release film supply bobbins 17.18, from which a pair of band-shaped release films 2.3 are sent out. This release film 2.3 is supplied in such a position as to sandwich the laminated prepreg material 1 from above and below. When the release film 2.3 passes above and below the roller device 20, the roller device is provided with plate members 23, 24 that protrude upward and downward, respectively, and the release film 2.3 is moved in the width direction of each roller device. Fold line 2C1 shown in Figure 1 at the center
Add 3C.

The release films 2, 3 are then guided by cylindrical roller units 27, 28 attached to the pillars 25, so that they are again turned into flat strips and sent together with the prepreg material 1 to the preforming device 30. When the release films 2 and 3 are superimposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the prepreg material 1, the crease 2C13C left at the center of the release film 2.3 in the width direction causes the center line of the release film 2.3 to overlap the prepreg material 1. The center line of material 1 coincides.

FIG. 3 shows details of the preforming device 30, and the release films 2 and 3 supplied above and below the laminated prepreg material 1 are introduced into the preforming device 30 in the state shown.

The preforming device 30 has a plurality of roller units arranged within a box-shaped frame 31 equipped with an electric heater (not shown), and in the illustrated embodiment, five roller units are used. First stage roller unit 3 located on the entrance side
Reference numeral 2 has a plurality of cylindrical pinch rollers arranged vertically, and feeds the upper release film 2, the prepreg material 1, and the lower release film 3 in alignment.

Second stage roller unit 34, third stage roller unit 36
．． Fourth stage roller unit 38. 5th stage roller unit 4
0 constitutes a unit that preforms a molding material in which prepreg material 1 and release film 2.3 are laminated together with a molding plate 42 into a shape that approximates the cross-sectional shape of a molded product.

The molded plate 42 has a planar shape in the second stage roller unit 34, and is bent into a 90° angle shape with the center portion as the apex in the fifth stage roller unit 40, and has a shape that continuously connects the middle part. has. In the second stage roller unit 34, parallel rollers (not shown) corresponding to the flat molding plate 42 are arranged in a pressing manner on the upper surface of the molding plate 42.
The third stage roller unit 36 includes a drum-shaped pressing roller 37 having a narrow diameter at the center corresponding to the shape of the forming plate 42 . Similarly, the fourth stage roller unit 38 includes a drum-shaped suppression roller 39 corresponding to the shape of the molded plate 42 having an obtuse apex angle, and the fifth stage roller unit 40 includes a molded plate 42 having an obtuse apex angle. A drum-shaped pressing roller 41 corresponding to the shape of is provided.

FIG. 4 shows a bearing device for a forming roller, and the bearing device 43 includes a lever 46 that swings by a bar 44 that is driven back and forth by a chain 45.

The lever 46 drives a swinging arm 48 via a link piece 47, and the swinging arm 48 pushes down a shaft 48a penetrating the roller support shaft, and applies a pressing force to the roller shaft 49 via a spring 48b. This bearing device allows the rollers of each roller unit to preform the molding material with uniform pressing force.

The chain 45 can be appropriately driven by a pneumatic motor (not shown) or the like.

Therefore, while the molding material passes through this preforming device 30, it is heated to a constant temperature and is sequentially bent by each roller unit, so that the molding material approximates the product shape.
The preforming device 30 forms an angle material with an apex angle of
drawn from.

The molding material preformed in the preforming device 30 into a 90° angle shape with the bent portion at the top is in a state where the top and bottom of the prepreg material 1 are covered with release films 2.3, as shown in FIG. and sent to the heat sealing device 50. At this time, the both side edges 2 of the release films 2 and 3
a, 2b.

3a and 3b extend outward from the side edges of the prepreg material 1 and are in a state where they are overlapped with each other.

The structure of the heat sealing device H50 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and includes an angled substrate 51 with the central portion as the top and consisting of face plates 51a and 51b, and an angled presser plate 52 placed on the top of the substrate 51. Equipped with Bolts 5 are mounted on the upper surfaces of the face plates 51a and 51b facing each other with the top of the substrate 51 as a boundary.
3a is installed, and a spring 55a is stretched between it and a bolt 54a installed on the outside of the opposing surface of the holding plate 52. Therefore, when the laminated prepreg material among the molding materials passes between the substrate 51 and the holding plate 52, a pressing force is applied by the spring 55a, and stable movement can be achieved.

A heat seal unit is attached to each surface corresponding to the surface forming the substrate 51, but since the elements forming these heat seal units are symmetrical with respect to the line of the top of the substrate 51, they are the same in the drawings. Parts are indicated by symbols a and b, and only one of them will be explained except for the main parts.

An angle member 57a is implanted on the board 51 by welding or the like, and another angle member 58a is attached to this angle member 57a with screws 59a, so that the upper surface of the angle member 58a is parallel to the board 51. Two bolts 61a are inserted through the angle member 58a at the front and rear, and the nuts 6
It is fixed at 2a. There is a nut 63 at the bottom of the bolt 61a.
A spring 64a positioned by a is disposed to press a heat sealing press plate 65a against the substrate 51 side. The pressure plate 65a has two angle plates 57a and 58 at the front and back.
A is attached to the angle plate 57a, 58 with a bolt 66a through which the bolt 66a passes.
The hole on the a side is made larger, and the press plate 65a is moved up and down by several meters.
Constructed so that it can swing.

On the other hand, an L-shaped support plate 75a is erected on the upper surface of the angle member 58a by screws 76a, and a bevel 77a is attached to the top of this support plate 75a. One end is a suppression plate 65
Wire 78a fixed to bolt 66a fixed to a
is guided by this reel 77a and connected to the preforming device, and the wire 78a moves in conjunction with the forming process of the preforming device, and presses the press plate 65a of the heat sealing device 50.
is swung in the direction of arrow X, the force.

As clearly shown in FIG. 7, a support 60a is erected on the upper surface of the angle member 58a. This support 60a is made of an insulating material such as Bakelite, and has screws 67.
a is screwed in. One end of a spring 68a is attached to this screw 67a, and the other end of the spring 68a suspends a terminal 72a of the electric heater. terminal 72a
A conductive wire 73a of the electric heater connected to is introduced into the lower surface of the pressing plate 65a, and the other end is connected to a terminal 74a provided at the front end of the pressing plate 65a. Electric wires 71a and 79 are connected to these terminals 72a and 74a, respectively.
a are connected, and electric wires 71a and 79a are connected to an AC power source. therefore.

By supplying power from the AC power supply, the electric heater attached to the lower surface of the press plate 65a is heated, and the welding temperature of the release film can be obtained.

Also, the face plate 51 of the substrate 51 facing this pressing plate 65a
A bottom plate 56a is placed on top a.

Next, the action of heat sealing the side edges 2a, 3a and 2b, 3b of the release film 2.3 using this heat sealing device 50 will be explained. Double-sided plates 51a, 5 of the board 51
Although heat sealing devices are provided symmetrically corresponding to 1b, here, the heat sealing action on the − side edge side will be explained, and the explanation on the other side edge side will be omitted. The press plate 65a is pulled up against the force of the spring 64a by the wire 78a linked to the preformed bag M30, and the entire molding material is step-fed, so that the sides 2a and 3a of the release film are connected to the respective press plate 65a and the bottom plate. It is drawn into the gap 56a. Thereafter, the wire 78a is loosened and the pressing plate 65a is pressed down by the spring 64a. As a result, the side portions 2a and 3a of the release film are sandwiched between the pressing plate 85a and the bottom plate 56a, forming a thermally welded portion 4a.

By interlocking the energization control of the electric heater with the pressing process of the pressing plate 65a, it is possible to weld only the necessary parts of the release film 2.3 and prevent excessive progress of melting and welding.

The melting and welding temperature of the release film 2.3 varies depending on the material of the film, but for example, when a polyester film is used, it is welded at about 250°C. Note that if both edges of the release film are not heat-sealed with both edges remaining polymerized, this heat-sealing device is omitted.

The molding material with both sides of the release film heat-sealed is then sent to a hot press apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

This hot press device has a press frame 110 attached to a substrate 101 fixed on the main frame of the molding device.
and a molding die set 120 installed in the press frame 110 and a hydraulic cylinder device 130 that pressurizes the die set 120.

The press frame 110 includes a lower plate 111 placed on a substrate 101, a support 113 erected from the lower plate 111, and an upper plate 112 supported by the support 113. Lower plate 111
A die set 120 is fixed on top by a clamp 115. The die set 120 is composed of a lower mold 122 and an upper mold 126 facing the lower mold 122. The lower mold 122 has a 90° angle-shaped portion having a corner as the top, which is the molding shape, formed along the axis. do. Grooves 123 are provided on both sides of the lower mold 122, and these grooves 123 serve as escape points when the resin exuded from the prepreg material accumulates within the release film when the prepreg material is thermally cured within the heat-sealed release film. This is to ensure that the

An upper mold 126 facing the lower mold 122 is formed with a valley portion that fits into the mountain portion of the lower mold 122 . The upper mold 126 and the lower mold 122 are equipped with electric heaters (not shown).
6 and the lower mold 122 are maintained at the thermosetting temperature of the prepreg material 1. The thermosetting temperature varies depending on the resin, but is approximately 120℃~2
It is 00℃.

A guide pin 124 is erected around the die set 121, passes through a bushing hole 127 of a die set upper mold 125, and slides and guides an upper mold 126.

A spring 128 is fitted around the outer periphery of the guide pin 124 to constantly urge the die set 125 upward.

A hydraulic cylinder device 130 is installed on the upper part of the upper plate 112 of the press frame.
includes a cylinder member 131 and a ram 132 connected to a screw 1 in the cylinder member. Pipe lines 135 and 136 communicating with a hydraulic pressure source are connected to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder member 131.

The lower end of the ram 132 is connected to a die plate 133 via a fixture 134, and the downward pressing force of the ram 132 is transmitted to the upper die 126 via the die plate 133.
22, the molding material is thermoset molded. The operation of the forming process will be described later.

The molding material that has been pressure-molded and thermo-cured into a predetermined shape using the hot press device 100 has already been completed as a final molded product, but in order to achieve complete thermo-curing,
It is sent to a thermosetting device 150. This thermosetting device 150 is a so-called constant temperature bath in which a molded product guide device (not shown) is placed inside an outer box 151 and an electric heater (not shown) is provided around it. Heat curing temperature (12
0°C to 200°C). A heat-sensitive sensor or the like is placed inside the outer box 151 to control the temperature to a constant temperature. The temperature is also controlled to be constant in the preforming device and the hot press, but since both are known control methods, the explanation will be omitted.

The heating temperature in the hot press device 100 and the thermosetting device 150 is 120'C to 200°C, which is lower than the melting temperature of the release film 2.3 of 250°C, so that only the prepreg material 1 is thermoset and its The surrounding release film 2.3 is unaffected.

On the exit side of the thermosetting device 150, there is a device 1 for pulling out the molded product.
Place 70. This drawer W170 includes a base 171 placed on a frame, and columns 172 are erected at the front and rear ends of the base 171. A guide shaft 174 is horizontally suspended between the columns 172, and a gripping device 175 is slidably supported on the guide shaft 174 via a sliding bearing 176.

A hydraulic cylinder 178 is attached to the molded product entrance side of the base 171, and drives the gripping member in the direction of pulling out the molded product. The gripping device 175 is a so-called gripper feed device that grips the molded product by opening and closing a vertically divided gripping member using a cylinder, and forcibly drives the product in the axial direction.

The molded product drawn out by the drawer device fiW170 is slidably guided on the support member 180 and cut into a predetermined length by a cutting machine (not shown) to complete the processing.

On the main frame of the molding device, in addition to the mechanisms described above, there are a sequence control device 200, a switch panel 205, an air pressure adjustment device 210, a control valve 215, and a pneumatic
Various devices such as hydraulic pressure conversion devices 220, 222, 272, 276 and pressure increase devices 230 are arranged.

In addition to electricity, the power source for this molding device is pneumatic,
Although hydraulic pressure or the like can be used, in this embodiment, an operating circuit using pneumatic pressure as the power source will be explained.

FIG. 9 shows an operating circuit of the hot press apparatus 100. Compressed air introduced from a compressed air source 209 is regulated to a predetermined pressure by a pressure regulator 210, and then sent to a control valve 215. The control valve 215 is operated by a signal from the sequence controller 200, and when the hot press device is in operation, compressed air is sent through the line 218 to the pneumatic-hydraulic pressure converter 220, and the converted hydraulic pressure is sent to the line 218. 224 to the pressure booster 230. The hydraulic pressure increased by the pressure increasing device 230 is sent to the cylinder 131 via the line 226, and the ram 132 is compressed to perform hot press molding.

A proximity switch is arranged at the stroke end of the cylinder 131 to detect the stroke end of the piston and feed back a signal to the sequence control device 200.

FIG. 10 shows the operating circuit of the drawer device 170.
The compressed air introduced from the compressed air source 249 is regulated to a predetermined pressure by a pressure regulating device 250 and then passed through a pair of control valves 26.
Sent to 0.270.

The other control valve 260 controls the drive of the gripping members divided into upper and lower parts of the gripping device 175, and controls the driving of the rams 263 of pneumatic cylinders 262 and 266 disposed above and below the gripping device 175.
, 267 are respectively connected to upper and lower divided gripping members. In the illustrated state, compressed air is sent through the control valve 260 to the ram side of the pneumatic cylinder 262% 266 to deflate the ram 263° 267. By switching the control valve 260 and sending compressed air to the respective pneumatic cylinders 262 and 266 in the direction of extending the rams 263 and 267, the gripping members attached to the tips of the rams 263 and 267 grip the molded product from above and below. . Each pneumatic cylinder 262,
A proximity switch is provided at the stroke end of the piston 266 to detect the stroke end of the piston and feed back a signal to the sequence control device 200.

The other control valve 270 controls the operation of the driving hydraulic cylinder 178 of the drawing device 170, and the compressed air switched by the control valve 270 is transferred to the pair of pneumatic-hydraulic pressure converters 2.
In the illustrated state, compressed air is selectively supplied to either one of the pneumatic-to-hydraulic converters 2.
72 and the converted hydraulic pressure is introduced to the ram 179 side of the hydraulic cylinder 178 through line 273, causing the ram 179 to contract. Since the ram 179 is connected to the gripping device 175, the gripping bag W175 is connected to the thermosetting device 150.
Move in the direction of being returned to the side.

Next, switch the switching valve 270 to transfer the compressed air to the other pneumatic
Once delivered to the hydraulic conversion bladder W276, the converted hydraulic pressure is introduced via line 277 to the opposite side of the hydraulic cylinder 178 from the ram 179, causing the ram 179 to extend. The extension of the ram 179 causes the gripping device 175 to move in a direction to pull out the molded product from the thermosetting device 150.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the steps of the molding cycle of this molding device, with the name and code of the device driven on the vertical axis and the process (time) on the horizontal axis, and the area surrounded by diagonal lines. indicates that each device is operating.

In step 1, the hydraulic cylinder 131 of the hot press device is pressed against the molding material, and in step 2, pressurization at a specified pressure is completed, and this fully pressurized state continues until the beginning of step 5. The heat sealing device 50 operates from Step 2 to the end of Step 3 to heat seal both side edges of the release film.

In step 5, the pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 131 of the hot press device is released and the hot press device returns to its initial state. When the pressure of the hot pressing device on the molding material is completely released, the pneumatic cylinders 262, 266 of the gripping device are activated in step 6 to grip the molded product. When the gripping is completed, pressurization of the hydraulic cylinder 178 of the drawing device starts in step 7, and in step 8, the product is drawn out to a predetermined length.

In this molding device, the material and product are fed by the operation of this drawing device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, when molding a prepreg material impregnated with a thermosetting resin and having adhesive properties, the laminated prepreg material is sandwiched between the top and bottom with a release film and subjected to hot pressing. It is possible to prevent resin that oozes out due to pressure from adhering to and solidifying on the surface of the press mold, thereby ensuring good press molding. Additionally, if the width of the release film is made larger than the width of the prepreg material and the edges of the release film are heat-sealed to form a void, excess resin will accumulate in the void and harden due to heat, causing does not have a negative impact on

Furthermore, in the molding equipment, the release film is sent out at the same time as the strip-shaped prepreg material is supplied, so even when the prepreg material is preliminarily heated and pressurized in the preforming equipment, the prepreg material remains covered with the release film. , excess resin is prevented from adhering to the device.

The strip-shaped prepreg material and release film are gripped and transported by a pull-out device located at the downstream end, making it easy to adjust the processing cycle.

Since the heat sealing process, hot pressing process, gripping process, and drawing process are performed in stages, there is no friction on the fibers when moving the molded product, which prevents damage to the molded product and allows for thin-walled molding. You can also get items.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the molding material according to the present invention, FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are front views of the molding device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preforming device, and FIG. 4 is a roll 5 is a front view of the heat sealing device, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the heat sealing device, FIG. 7 is a view taken in the Y direction of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a hot press. Perspective view of the device, No. 9
10 is a control circuit diagram of the hot press device, FIG. 10 is a control circuit diagram of the drawing device, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation process of the molding device. ■・・・Prepreg material, 2% 3・・・Release film, 10・・・・・・
- Feeding device, 20... Roller device, 30... Preforming device, 50... Heat sealing device, 100... Hot press device, 150...・・・
...Thermosetting device, 170...Drawer device, 200...Sequence control device.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In the method of hot-pressing prepreg material, which is carbon fiber or glass fiber impregnated with a thermosetting resin, to form a product, the width of the prepreg material is larger than the width of the prepreg material so as to sandwich the top and bottom surfaces of the prepreg material. A method for forming a prepreg material, comprising the steps of: supplying a heat-fusible release film having a width; and hot pressing a prepreg material whose upper and lower surfaces are covered with the release film. (2) In the method of hot-pressing prepreg material, which is carbon fiber or glass fiber impregnated with a thermosetting resin, to form a product, the width of the prepreg material is larger than the width of the prepreg material so as to sandwich the top and bottom surfaces of the prepreg material. A process of supplying a heat-fusible release film with a width, a process of heat-welding both edges of the release film to cover the prepreg material with the release film, and hot pressing the prepreg material whose upper and lower surfaces are covered with the release film. A method for forming a prepreg material, the method comprising the step of processing. (3) In a molding device for prepreg material made by impregnating carbon fiber or glass fiber with a thermosetting resin, a large number of bobbins wound with strip-shaped prepreg material are mounted, and release films are wound to be supplied above and below the prepreg material. A device that loads and feeds bobbins, a preforming device that presses and pre-forms the laminated prepreg material sandwiched between top and bottom release films, and a hot press device that intermittently heats and presses the molding material. and a pull-out device that pulls out the molded material by a predetermined length from the hot press device at predetermined time intervals. (4) In a molding device for prepreg material made by impregnating carbon fiber or glass fiber with a thermosetting resin, a large number of bobbins wrapped with band-shaped prepreg material are mounted, and release films are wound to be supplied above and below the prepreg material. A device that loads and feeds a bobbin, a preforming device that presses and preforms the molding material with release films sandwiching the top and bottom of the laminated prepreg material, and a device that extends to both sides of the preformed molding material. A heat-sealing device that heats and welds a release film, a hot-pressing device that intermittently heats and presses the molding material, and a drawing device that pulls out the molded material a certain length from the hot-pressing device at regular intervals. A molding device for prepreg materials.